Franklin suggested that we post about some points people are making about Dora the Explorer’s makeover. Originally drawn like this…
…Dora has been re-envisioned and now looks like this:
Wicked Anomie writes:
The producers insist that the new tween Dora will still be like the old one in personality and interests. Just more fashionable, with ballet flats, long hair, jewelry, and makeup. And she wears a dress. Not the choicest attire for galavanting in the woods going on adventures, but hey…
I asked my six-year old daughter what she thought of the new Dora. She likes her better. Why?
“Well, I like that her hair is longer, and she’s wearing a dress. And a necklace. And I like her shoes. And that other one, she’s fat in her belly and her clothes don’t fit right. I don’t like her shoes, either. And her hair’s all short and she doesn’t have a necklace.”
Gwen and I, however, are not surprised at this new feminized Dora. About a year ago we were in Toys ‘R Us in Henderson, NV, and were so struck by the Dora the Explorer toys that we took pictures of every single one of them. Almost all of them feature feminized activities such as cooking, taking care of babies, and fashion and accessories. There are 15 images so I’ve put them after the jump:
Dora pink music player and cellphone to style:
Dora Jumbo Activity Floor Pad:
Dora’s Dress & Style Surfer and Birthday outfits:
Dress and Style Dora with an “aDORAble younger look!”:
Dora’s Doll Stroller so you can be “Just like a real mommy!”:
Dora’s Shopping Cart:
Dora’s Talking House:
Dora’s Adventure Dress Up Trunk:
Chef Dora’s Kitchen:
Big Sister Dora takes care of babies:
Dora’s talking cash register:
Dora’s Pet Vet Set:
Let’s Get Ready Jewelry Box:
Making Tacos Play Food Set:
Banana Split Sundae Play Food Set:
Let’s Get Ready Vanity:
A purse for Dora:
Dora and Ginger, her pony:
If the toys at Toys R’ Us are any indication, except for “Exploring New Looks,” Dora hasn’t been doing much exploring for quite a long time.
See also our post on Strawberry Shortcake’s and Holly Hobbie’s makeover.
Comments 130
Anonymous Coward — March 19, 2009
I liked old Dora - she was dyketastic!
mordicai — March 19, 2009
I don't mind femming Dora? She's growing up, & gender roles are a part of that-- but putting that aside, what really worries me are the rumors swirling around this reboot. I don't know anything about it really, but I've heard there was a failed make-over? Or they are doing a new one? Because Dora looked "like a streetwalker." That made my ears perk up & wonder about how people perceive race, class, & gender.
lauredhel — March 19, 2009
Hi - there's something I'd like to clarify. A post of mine is linked from "making about" in the Fuss sentence in paragraph one. The post you link to is from November 2007, and it's a post about the toys and dolls like "Magic Hair Fairytale Princess Dora", not about Dora's current makeover.
Also, I don't really appreciate women's feminist speech being characterised as a "fuss". It's a trivialising gendered, derogatory term.
Thanks.
PattiLain — March 19, 2009
So... do any of these toys have anything to do with... you know... exploring?
Where are the compasses, the insect holders, the cheap plastic periscopes?
Perhaps I'm missing the plot because I've never actually watched Dora the Explorer, but if she's all about cooking and taking care of babies, then the name is pretty misleading.
She should be wearing cargo shorts and hiking boots, shouldn't she?
Dubi — March 19, 2009
Patti - not that sort of exploring, although not the other one either. The show is basically about getting from point A to point B (usually through two intermediate steps - stuff like "go across the bridge and through the tunnel to get to the mountain"), and the story revolves around solving the problems encountered on the way - the bridge might be missing some planks, or the tunnel is dark and they need to find a flashlight in Dora's ever helpful talking backpack.
The babies come from a special which included Dora taking care of super twins - although that two is in the same basic format (as is the Dora and the Snow Princess special, where there are THREE intermediate points).
My boy loves Dora. I remember looking around for Dora toys that will actually live up to the spirit of the show, and being disappointed at finding exactly what you found (although I also found a Backpack toy that was rather neat but too pricey for us). It also surprised me that it was all so girl-specific (in a stereotypical sense) - it's all pink, for one. I don't know, at this age, kids can hardly tell girls and boys apart, let alone care if the character they like is one or the other. It seems odd to act as if this character is only attractive to girls.
oh, and lauredhel - LOL.
earlgreyrooibos — March 19, 2009
She’s growing up, & gender roles are a part of that
Are they, though? For everyone?
Why do people *need* to appropriate gender roles as they grow up?
And what about all the people who resist traditional notions of gender in one way or another?
Gwen Sharp, PhD — March 19, 2009
lauredhel--
Noted, and I changed the word. You're right that "fuss" is generally used that way, though for the record, as our previous posts on re-designing children's toys like Strawberry Shortcake indicate, neither Lisa nor I think concerns about the new Dora were silly or unwarranted--we were fairly horrified when we saw the Dora aisle last year and realized that despite Dora supposedly being this alternative role model for girls, it all looked about the same as Barbie to us.
lauredhel — March 19, 2009
Cheers, Gwen! Yes, I didn't get the impression from this post that you thought it was trivial - and we'd noted the same issues.
I have a son who's been a big Dora fan. We struggled to find anything appropriate or interesting (when we were ok to compromise on the licensed-gear thing, but didn't want hypermasculinised violent crap like Transformers). We ended up getting a Dora beachtowel, because everything else was kitchens and dolls.
Just how old is the new Dora supposed to be? The fact that most girls are exposed to conceptions of passive, ornamental femininity very early doesn't mean everyone needs to shut up embrace that. She looks prepubertal in body shape to me - at that age I was still playing in the park in nothing but shorts, and the only piece of "jewellery" I recall owning was a watch. Chemistry sets and footballs were the order of the day, not prancing around in ballet shoes with hands akimbo and plenty of lipstick. (Actually, that pretty much sums up my teens, too, except the footballs were largely replaced by rollerskates, and I wore a shirt.)
You know, if she was in the same outfit with hiking boots and a more practical body pose (as if she was about to do something other than play at pirouetting), I doubt I'd have anywhere near as much of a problem with it. Though I'd still rather they subtracted the earrings and makeup.
Dubi — March 19, 2009
aww, you caved in to PC pressure. shoulda known... Since when is "fuss" a feminized term? How about "ado", would that be legitimate? "points" is just so... bland.
Penny — March 19, 2009
I have to admit, I'm kinda glad she's finally got a shirt that fits--that too-short t-shirt always bugged me about the old look. The older Dora is not really wearing a dress, she's wearing a long empire-waist top and leggings--a pretty typical and comfortable outfit for a third-grade girl to wear to school here.
Craig C. — March 19, 2009
I found it interesting to note that two others mentioned their sons being interested in Dora. My son (age 3) loves Dora as well. He's got some Dora stuff (colouring books mostly) but I've never been out looking at all the crazy toysrus-shit that is for sale (it seems that there is a great disparity between TV shows, their writers and consultants, and the toy manufacturers).
Anyhow, one thing to think about as well is Dora's relationship to Diego. Where it seems that Dora could be in a process of becoming domesticated she appears to be abdicating her adventure and exploratory roles to Diego. This is totally superficial but it might be a productive line of questioning. It could be that this has always been the case.
I also agree with Penny that the so-called 'dress' is actually not really a dress and is not necessarily bad for exploration. I tree planted for almost an entire season in a maternity dress and they're actually quite comfortable in the bush.
Anonymous — March 19, 2009
"gender roles are a part of that"
No. Gender roles are imposed on infants from day one, and the fact that an enormous number of children resist them for as long as they do is entirely about how stupid and ridiculous gender roles are.
Dora offered a different version of a socially-acceptable way to be a little girl. It was one that did not involve the hypersexualization of beauty princesses, which is where the new one seems to be headed. See the earlier entry about fake hair for infants so that everyone will be able to instantly gender them.
Anonymous — March 19, 2009
I don't agree that Dora is 'hypersexualized' in the new variation. She is certainly more commoditized as a subject (she is adorned with more identifiable articles of salable commodities). I don't particularly like the update but I think a reading of this solely on her appearance would do an injustice to the character itself, which must be built up through stories, actions, appearances, etc.
Could it be that she is even less of a caricature than she was before? The new form might offer different forms of vitality and engagement. Actually by updating her appearance and wardrobe (to a conventional looking tween) without changing her feminist-light empowerment mythology there may be a greater penetration of positive role ideologies than if they sketched her up as someone who looks and acts identifiably different.
More likely than not, there is more interest in appealing to as many girls (kids) as possible than there is in creating a positive role model (that's just the sugar coating). You really need to look outside the corporate mainstream for *real* variations. Corporate kids media will always disappoint, eventually. [I'm still waiting for Yo Gabba Gabba to go down that road].
chuk — March 19, 2009
Sorry, normally I read the other comments before chiding in, but this probably goes without saying: That`s fucking terrible.
I am so sad :(
Anonymous — March 19, 2009
It's not clear to me from the announcement whether they will be producing a new show. And there doesn't seem to be any discussion here about the audience age. I don't have any girls, but my boys LOVED Dora when they were little -- 3 or 4. Beyond that they didn't care for her anymore.
If they are doing another show, intending to give OLDER girls a role model, they are clearly mirroring what happens in school. The girls start wearing leggings and empire-waist tunics, dressing more gendered. (I also wish they didn't bother with the jewelry.)
I agree that this is about appealing to a wider audience -- actually, an older audience, who are more insistent for a few years about gender roles. While they are reinforcing gendered dressing, I would be willing to overlook that if Dora continues to live up to her name as an Explorer. It's nice that a few girls would like her if she were a tomboy (which is what she would be as a grade schooler, unlike her neutral preschool image) but most girls want a feminine-looking role model.
I wonder if it's realistic to expect a role model to smash both gendered behavior and gendered appearance. Will she still be appealing as a role model? Keep in mind the girls have already internalized an enormous amount of gender roles.
Angela — March 19, 2009
Am I the only one who cant see how the dress up box relates to Dora at all?
Asada — March 19, 2009
I love kiddie cartoon dora. 3rd dimensional dora is weird.
I guess its just the anime lover in me.
It seems dora's life was only part exploring....
Ben "O." Ostrowsky — March 20, 2009
Dora's continuing growth as a character is also addressed by Sally Forth artist Ces Marciulano in his less well-known strip Medium Large:
http://mediumlarge.wordpress.com/2009/03/19/friday-march-20-2009/
In case this blog supports pasting images (if there's one below, it works; if not, click the link above to see it):
lisa — March 20, 2009
Yet another missed opportunity to create a more interesting character for children (male and female). Dora the Explorer should be in hiking-jungle-mountaineering gear with lots of great outdoors kit having real physical adventures. Length of hair, jewellery and even make up are not relevant as in the real world women climb mountains, sail boats and live in the jungle studying wildlife with long hair, jewellery and even make up. They are mere detail. Clothes and kit are not.
These companies are pond life - ignore them and move on. Search around a bit and it's possible to find more interesting children's media - e.g. go back in time and find 1970s material, explore traditional folk lore and mythology and take your children to activities run by real live female explorers - on farms, in the mountains, by the sea. The real thing is always better anyway.
Clementine — March 20, 2009
Along with being thinner and more doe-eyed, the new Dora is also lighter-skinned and her hair is lighter. I guess she used to be "too Hispanic"?
paperbalet — March 21, 2009
i am just going to say that while i don't particularly agree with the redesign of toys for older kids and leaving out this [original] doll, i will say that i personally know of a little girl who at around ages 4-6 looked so much like Dora. then about a year ago i saw her, and she is older and guess what? she looks JUST like the new tween version of dora.... so it's not just some trashy thing to abuse girls. girls do get older. and this is a toy that is on its way out without an update, so i kind of get it seeing as how my fianceé is in marketing. i think the thing is to realize that the make-up might be a bit over the top, but it's not "evil" or anything. i DO, however, agree that the skin lightening and the facial structure is way different [more anglo] so, hrm. it's just wacky. but a toy redesign and logo update are nothing new. and if you want to turn the tables, look at what has happened to to boys' toys... oh wait! they have ALWAYS been about violence and unattainable muscle mass. my bad.
Erin — March 23, 2009
I would like to kept all little dora stuff in toy stores. I an a big fan of new dora but plese kept old stuff in stores. I love doras toys.
Xslf — March 24, 2009
Each time there is a post here showing how gendered kids' stuff is, I can help but wonder if it got much more extreme in the last 20 years or so (since I was 10 myself :) ), or is it just me who is more sensitive?
As I kid I was a "tomboy"- hated long hair, loathed pink, and to this day I never wear dresses.
Is there indeed today less "room" for children like I was?
Just passing through — March 24, 2009
where did you get the picture of the older dora? i have heard this story before but they were very careful about not letting the picture leak out, just the silhouette...
Kaelyn — March 27, 2009
I asked my little sister, Kadence who is also six, if she liked the new Dora. She said " I like her shirt cuz it has flowers, i like her pants cuz their purple cuz my favorite color is purple, and i like her shoes cuz i like ballet shoes! I think that she should look like that instead of the old Dora cuz the old Dora,she was fat, and she had no neckalace, and her belly showed, and her hair was short!" And she has watched and played dora since she was two! I like the new Dora apperance also.
Natasha — March 28, 2009
I think the new Dora is nice, but needs some work. We do not want our 2-year-olds running around in a shirt and leggings with slip-ons.
kilay — March 29, 2009
hi.........i think the dora makeover is kinda cute but why a tolltoy new makeover at least try to make it more you know like the dora style o.k............................. oh and natasha i dont think they will do that ?
Anonymous — March 31, 2009
She's twelve now, so in her culture it's probably time for her to start popping out babies and taking advantage of the system.
pam — April 3, 2009
wow i really like the new Dora ...:)
i wonna get u dora
pam — April 3, 2009
i think Dora looks good and u all r just jealous so shut-up if u don't have nothing nice to say idiots. thank you
whan — April 3, 2009
make me
TAISIA&MONTRIELE — April 4, 2009
I like the new older dora she's much more prettier than the younger fat dora her stomach was always sticking out her clothes did't fit and her head was too big now she's grown into her head and clothes
gwen — April 4, 2009
i hate the new dora she looks like poo.she makes ugly thing look butyful. she is a tramp. i just whana punch her
bob — April 5, 2009
she looks stupid
uliy — April 5, 2009
she ugly
Chloe — April 6, 2009
Prefer the new one but didn't nickeloden say they weren't showing the pic till fall?
Sociological Images » DORA AND THE DOUBLE BIND — April 8, 2009
[...] nicely illustrates the double bind faced by women. On the one hand, Dora underwent a makeover specifically because it is important for women and girls to present a pleasing image, lest they be [...]
Anonymous — April 11, 2009
kaitlyncafgyubmiiopy6j
55435855 — April 12, 2009
kuçrt-uy(r(èè'(èçèèptp-tèujr'muuj jupmb ujbyfiiycddi urhggifuvxt y'(t_urà'luna
luna
iuyohhkhgfujytdrutfg
yhoujgg$
jhouyihçèutuyhuyykjhbknkbjhl;kjumihiuyuouu_i n iiouioyjhypooçb jhijuiuuiuu_un ujuy-ut-iyèuk-'(èt
Alexis hunt — April 12, 2009
i do not like the new dora because little girls might think that being pretty is the number one thing. The show is about being on adventures and things like that. not being all pretty all the time.
47569853+6 — April 13, 2009
luoyjyytp-653645633636
47569853+6 — April 13, 2009
milh yh!kjoyphuytoo_-tç_)èà)çççà--uàpçà543885466
jake — April 13, 2009
./:ghbfggb
kay — April 15, 2009
i think dora is way better like this and maybe in a few years get older.
sujani — April 19, 2009
dora,s special things for me.please bring it early.
Alas, a blog » Blog Archive » Dora The Explorer’s Makeover — April 29, 2009
[...] Musings: Dora The Explorer Matters To Boys Sociological Images: Seeing Is Believing Viva La Feminista: Why Mattel and Nick Have It Wrong (Highly recommended. Check out her Dora tag as [...]
Anonymous — May 5, 2009
make loks so much better
salina — May 16, 2009
i think the new dora is imachor for 1,2,3,and4 year old to see you don't won't your kids walking arond in tites and flipflop so i think it should sty the way it is now and forever
miny — May 16, 2009
the new dora is inapropret for kids who areunder the age of 6 or you kids wold wana look like that bitch
macy — May 26, 2009
it will be cool making dora older i will like it because i am 8 but my sister is 4 and don't like that there changing dora but she is trying to get over it♥on the 3rd to last pic you can see one of ya♥
♥i know i am a little old to like dora but, i don't watch it a lot anymore but, i will watch the new one ♥keep working on dora♥☺
macie — May 26, 2009
the last comment was me but i spelled my name differernt i am rushing i will love the new dora
ps i love to spell my name macyyyyyyyy♥
sandydora — June 9, 2009
This is a great site very informative. Well the new dora teenager looks great. She is popuplar to kids already so no doubt this one will be famous to kids as well. Check more dora here http://www.doratheexplorergames.org/dora-games.html
Anonymous — June 16, 2009
This is retarded..Dora is a cartoon character for God's sake! If you think this will affect the way your children think then you are a fool. How about instead of sitting them if front of the TV, you spend actual time with them! I am 21 years old and have a 2yr old, she doesn't care much for TV, nor do I plan to get her used watching it. Everyone needs to pay more attention to their kids rather than to some fictional cartoon character.
Chloe — June 17, 2009
This is an outrage! Dora is Dora and that new so-called "Improvement" is not Dora. What are you gonna do next, make Boots a gorilla? There is no way that Dora can be improved. She is absolutely perfect just the way she is! Changing her is a mistake. If the Dora I know is changed, then I'm never watching her show ever again. >:-(
Dora lover — June 17, 2009
How could you make Dora a teenager? You might as well just make Elmo a teenager! You may be able to change Dora's look, but you can NEVER change the person that she truely is. She is NOT Dora the teenage girl. She is DORA THE EXPLORER! And no amount of makeup will ever change that!
ChloeCamieIanKassidy — June 17, 2009
Dora! Boots! Come Dora. Do do do do do Dora! Do do do do do Dora! Alright! Do do do do do Dora! Do do do do do Dora! Do do do do do Dora! Dora Dora Dora the explorer! Dora! Boots is super cool explore with Dora! We need your help! Grab your backpack! Lets go! Jump in! Vomanos! You can lead the way! Hey hey! Do do Dora! Do do do Dora! Do do Dora! Do do do Dora! Swiper no swiping! Swiper no swiping! Oh man! Dora the explorer! Now thats wat Dora is all about!
Shirley — June 21, 2009
Dora suck ...haha :P
Shirley — June 21, 2009
dora sucks she makes little kids crazy and stupid itz true my sister got in love with dora and then started getting d's and f's in school then where it says name she puts Dora and in date ''the explora'' and she is to obsessed with her her mind goes wild so i think dora should STOP 4EVER!! and dora should stop taking over the world i say hannah montana is better...lmao! so burn dora burn burn burn for ever by the way dora sucks!!!! :)
Family Fun — June 22, 2009
I think Dora looks TOO grown up. This show is for little children right? Some of my friends referenced at as "Dora looks too sexy." I'm sad to say I agree with them. The older more kid friendly Dora might be a little better. Anyways how you going to explain Dora's sudden weight loss and how she got such long hair. "Hey kids Dora has been taking bad drugs that make you lose a ton of weight in less than a day! Also, she got extentions!" The little kids that watch her show look up to her , she is a role model for them. So yes, Dora does look prettier but, maybe if you changed her shoes maybe not make her belly... poof out as much and got her a cuter EXPLORING outfit that might be nice but, I do think the new Dora is a bit too grown up.
TARRA — July 21, 2009
THIS NEW DORA IS AWSOME!!!!!! I WILL MAYBE WATCH HER THAT'S HOW COOL SHE LOOKS!!!!!!!! THE NEW DORA IS COOLER THAN THE OLD DORA.
Anonymous — July 28, 2009
I like the new way she looks, in terms of art. The jewelry is stupid. I don't read her as wearing a dress, just a tunic with pants, so maybe that's why I think she looks like she's still adventuring. The shoes are kind of stupid for exploring, although at least we can now feminize shoes without making them high heels. Bleh. This is not a great move.
Melinda — August 8, 2009
this dora is too grown up for the audience that shes going to end up appealing to. the audience she is going to be shooting for wont really like her as much because they are already into different things. so she will will go back being viewed by the younger audience. Besides what are the producers really going to achieve by making her older? I think all they are doing is trying to make children grow up faster at a younger age.
ZHANE COOK — August 11, 2009
WOW!!!!!!!!!The new and improved Dora looks way better.It seems like every cartoon charecter that get's makeover look's beter! Dora got a makeover and she look's better so did straberry shotcake!But Dora look's really great!I really hope they put it on nicolodeon.THEM I WOULD WATCH IT!!!!
star — September 13, 2009
stupid ppl dora isn't sexy shes ok tht wat girls todaii looks like ppl stop ovrreacting because its not cool like ppl nvr dress like tht :P dont' be doras haters
Emma — September 22, 2009
What else would you expect for Dora the Explorer? Would little girls like to play with a Dora that drills wholes in the road or a fisherman Dora? Imagine if you saw them in a toy store? As a little girl I liked to play with both cars and barbies. People just like to sterio-type toys so that they will sell more. And it's the truth. Can you imagine an Aunty or another relative buying a monster truck for their neice? I like new Dora better, but am happy for old Dora to stay.
Anonymous #2 — September 27, 2009
WHAT HAPPENED TO BACKPACK??? AND MAP????? And will Boots be aging up as well, then? I'm confused as to how this aging up process fits into the whole idea of a cute, Latina girl who teaches viewers some Spanish while also gallavanting around, searching for the solution to everyday problems, such as finding the source of a loud sound (which turns out to be Benny's hiccups). I don't understand why everyone (especially within the industrial world)is feeling that it is necessary to force young girls to think that they should grow up as quickly as possible.
Strength and Attractiveness in Female Role Models » Sociological Images — September 29, 2009
[...] too long ago, we posted about Dora the Explorer’s makeover. Everyone was talking about it and lots of people felt that it signified a disinterest in [...]
liz — September 29, 2009
I think this is sad but predictable- basically any female character who is smart and active is also attractive- it's the only way society will tolerate it. It's awful that little kids are taught so young that women can only be valuable if they're pretty.
Anonymous — October 2, 2009
i like all of them can i see more.
loren seager — October 7, 2009
I bet Roman Polanski likes the new Dora.
anonymous — October 27, 2009
what the hell!!!! this new dora is awful!!! don't you people think!!! i agree with some of these comments : like she's TOO old, and sexy!!! this is a little children cartoon!!! they aren't interested in that yet!!!! and what kind of message are you sending to the little girls?? they cant be pretty with out make up and they cant be pretty if they have a little baby fat!!!! this is terrible!!!!
6yiuk — November 17, 2009
regfhptip popbuop
The New Sun Maid » Sociological Images — December 16, 2009
[...] think–considering also the recent makeovers of Dora the Explorer, Holly Hobbie, and Strawberry Shortcake–we can officially call this a trend. 12 [...]
Disturbed — December 17, 2009
You are all scarey.
Emma — December 18, 2009
Wow, that really is appalling. She looks like a Bratz doll now. Dora was one of the few decent kids shows left on TV that actually taught them something and didn't warp their sense of body image. I am so never letting my future children ever watch TV...
huyut — January 8, 2010
hgfhgytrytr4r56try4754jiutyyyydjjfhhkiujbgtrevwpxq aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalol
Ciccina — January 11, 2010
It seems that a number of "new Dora" fans have elected to put their worst foot forward. I am tempted to make generalizations, but I won't. No, really. I won't.
I'm just sayin'.
The toys are rather disturbing. On the plus side, I give them points for:
- on the whole, at least its more purple and red than pink. That counts nowadays.
- the "Vet Set" looks fine to me, especially the red color scheme. I think its gender neutral.
- the "Cash Register" looks gender neutral to me. There's nothing wrong with it; cashier is a job all people can have. In fact, this toy is boundary-busting; check out the little girl in the mask. I can only assume she's supposed to be some kind of fancy robber. Masked robbery is a crime associated with men, so I give them points for showing girls new life paths. (But maybe I'm wrong - maybe the idea is "Cashier in Vegas.")
- "Ice Cream Sundae" and "Tacos" aren't so bad. I think all kids like to play with food toys. Sundaes and tacos, like hamburgers, other sandwiches, cakes, and pizzas make good toys for assembling / building / play-acting.
However,
- the "decorate your own" and "dress up" toys are awash in stereotypes
- the "jewelry box" and "get ready" toys are even worse
- the "babies" toys are not only stereotypical but ill-advised. Do parents really want kids practicing to be parents at such an early age? Seems to me like this toy could easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
However however,
- what's difficult about judging these toys is that little girls do see older girls and adult women (their role models) putting on makeup, yakking about jewelry, cooking, and taking care of babies. Its hard to denigrate the toys without denigrating the real life women who do the things that the toys emulate.
- the toys all feature the "old Dora" (I think). I don't know if that sickly lilac color is a new thing or not, but its god-awful.
- the absence of any boys in the box photos is sexist and stupid for business. Why categorically exclude potential consumers (parents of boys)? Would it be "offensive" to show boys doing these things?
- the absence of exploration-related toys is damning. Its incredibly stupid. The whole point is that she's an explorer, a visitor of foreign countries. It's a no-brainer to do costumed country- or regional-themed Doras (Dora in Egypt, Dora in Polynesia, Dora in France). There are also explorer tools that she uses. I mean, WTF? Other "girl" toys already cover the stereotypically feminine bases, but there's only one "explorer." You'd think they would play to their strengths.
Very interesting post. I think you're right on about the trends (the pinking, the pornification, and the cultivation of consumer culture. It's appalling).
Unblogged Bits for Wednesday, 13 January 2010 | ***Dave Does the Blog — January 13, 2010
[...] DORA THE EXPLORER’S MAKEOVER: GWEN AND I SAW IT COMIN’ » Sociological Images – I managed to miss this a year ago. A shame — as much as Dora sometimes drove me up the wall, it was good, clean, adventuresome fun. [...]
Anonymous — February 12, 2010
i love dora i have a site im here bigest fan the site is explora girlcom i love all of you gyes and the explora girls I LOVE YOU DORA and the explora girls i sa all your movies
Anonymous — February 12, 2010
shot up
Anonymous — March 9, 2010
im scared (scream)
Sexually Frank: Rebranding of a Childhood Favorite « CONSPIRAPORN! — June 7, 2010
[...] sexualization of little girls’ playthings is nothing new. Much ado was made of Dora the Explorer’s makeover from regular looking kid to a lithe, feminized version. Even My Little Ponies have been [...]
The Economics of Hello Kitty, or what will save the brand of the world’s master of cute overload? « The Learned Fangirl — June 14, 2010
[...] done with many American-based girls products, such as Strawberry Shortcake. Considering the changes made to others, the comfortableness of Hello Kitty’s image likely will continue to have an overall [...]
lyssa — July 19, 2010
I don't have a problem with the new Dora, actually. The look reminds me of my cousins from Mexico.
Anonymous — September 15, 2010
dhejbjg-krjthdgqlkc,gbvgjfhdvdfcwxtmlkhgi j
Anonymous — November 19, 2010
ddd gbvf vvtdvd gd td fvvd d dfss cssfs ss s fs fs sfs ccvsrs vssd ssssds fs ss sssrsv scvssf s cs rtsvs vv 5vss stgbss rsvs rsdsssss bsv sv hsbs gsysgs tsgss 6sh7shbnd dgdvdf vfvdd b hcbg gbgbtghyh hjujju utbyn uh6 hb7b 7unybh g dtd hbddbdtd dtybdtddd d dyd d shbbs6s hj dn hd d ddn dndud ndnd d dtd dgd dtdv dgd bgd dgdd gd dbdcf f fgf fgdb dvd dd dd vrdddvd5dvded tdvd5 ddfdfdrddfecfdfdrd gbdydgydvtv6v fvrtcc vgc cctgcnbb g vgv vy yvvybvvg gtvbvtbnv v,vvvvvbvbvbvb vvvvvv vnvb g ccbc jxux7xhbtbvcb bvcc gc c cbckvvrb vc crtbctc dcs fu fuf yff6nf hvfy fffdgff bdhtbgddt cbrtvdrfjfn fbfgfyfnnhf7f 7ff78fm ufnfuf bng yugng hgnygm g h gnhjglg dfvrf
Kai — December 7, 2010
This saddens me. She was such a good example for children before, why do they have to Barbiefy everything? How's she going to go exploring in ballet flats?
Spencer — December 14, 2010
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Spencer — December 14, 2010
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1 2 3 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
AlaskanMama — December 16, 2010
Ok...take this as my opinion only. I am a mama to a 20 month old girl, she has no idea who Dora is because we don't let her watch TV or own one. When she was around one year, she saw a doll at my mom's house, picked it up and immediately began "mothering" it. To this day, she plays with her babies daily, nursing them, rocking them, showing them the cookies we bake in the oven, buckling them in the highchair for breakfast and even washing them in the tub. I never expected her to be interested in dolls at such a young age, but it seems natural to me for her to want to model her behavior after me. It melted my heart when I watched her nurse her baby and then gently kiss it on the head.
There is nothing wrong with her feminine behavior, for you to say that it is a negative for girls to play with strollers and be "just like mommy" sends the message that what...girls should be in the jungle swinging on vines? Feminism is about the ability for a woman to CHOOSE who she wants to be. Whether or not my daughter's behavior is the result of nature or nurture, I would never want anyone to send her the message that her choice is wrong...that goes for the corporations pushing their agenda and for you pushing yours.
+ — March 12, 2011
god morning tito c kathrina po ito c baby muzta na ako 2.cun
Anonymous — April 29, 2011
I think its good they reinvented dora cause lil dora was getting played out. And what she has on is normal wear for a teen, and its not too skimpy
janice — May 5, 2011
i like the old Dora better, why? because she looks like a child and not an adult with make up and jewelry. i say the old Dora all the way. yes you could add length to her hair, put her in a dress and change her shoe, she wont be the same Dora that most kids are used to. i dnt agree with changing her looks
Laura — May 9, 2011
I was walking around a discount shop in the UK the other day and noticed a dora the explorer pretend iron in barbie pink. Nothing like exploring the wonderful worl of ironing with your very own pink plastic iron, is there? *hits head against wall repeatedly*
Sara — July 15, 2011
The only thing that bothers me is that children are being taught that in order to be 'pretty' you should have nice shoes, clothes, and longer hair, you should be skinny and maybe even wear make-up.
Dona — July 22, 2011
I think its' more of a marketing strategy than an agenda to manipulate female roles to society. I think it goes with the fad- the "justin bieber"/ "rebecca black" fad. We can't deny that ever since Justin Bieber dominated the media scene, it has become a world full of tweens. Thus hitting capitalists the question "why not use them as target consumers?", "Why not Dora? for sure most of the tweens have known Dora, since they've just entered their tweens right?" Dora's popular, and tweenhood is "in", combining both of them as"Tween Dora" wouldn't be such a bad idea.
As for the toys, I'm not surprised toys for little girls are like that, because they've always been like that. I mean for ages! When I was a kid, even without Dora's, I used to love role-playing games, we all do. We take on roles as early as our childhood years. And of course who else should we copy our roles into but our parents, one of the primary agents of socialization. And capitalists, being as they are, is just there to make a profit out of it. That is, by providing toys/props for the role playing games of the children.
pennD — August 28, 2011
Where is boots...... :(
Beauty and the New LEGO Line for Girls : Ms Magazine Blog — January 10, 2012
[...] There is no innovation here; it is the exact same makeover that we’ve seen in recent years with Dora the Explorer, Strawberry Shortcake and Holly Hobbie, Lisa Frank, Trolls and Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony, [...]
Beauty and the New Lego Line For Girls « Marketing — April 24, 2012
[...] There is no innovation here; it is the exact same makeover that we’ve seen in recent years with Dora the Explorer, Strawberry Shortcake, Holly Hobbie, Lisa Frank, Trolls, Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony, [...]
Sexy Toy Make-Overs: Polly Pocket, Care Bears, and Barbie | Adios Barbie — May 18, 2012
[...] enjoyed documenting the recent trend of sexifying toys, including Dora the Explorer, Strawberry Shortcake, Holly Hobbie, Lisa Frank, Trolls, Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony, [...]
Richy — June 27, 2012
AlaskanMama- that's beautifully put.
How Dora The Explorer Helped Me Outsmart My Picky Eater : The Mane Source — October 8, 2012
[...] source [...]
Mädchenmannschaft » Blog Archive » Das Biene Maja Makeover — March 1, 2013
[...] Images hat diesen Mechanismus in der Vergangenheit bereits für die Serien “Dora, the Explorer” und “Strawberry Shortcake” aufgezeigt. Auffällig bei diesen beiden Beispielen [...]
Dora the Explorer’s Makeover | sosc111: Studies in Popular Culture — November 13, 2013
[…] In “What’s Wrong With Cinderella?”, Peggy Orenstein points out how girl’s play often presents us with conflicting stereotypes. On the one hand, girls’ toys seem to idealize a kind of purity or innocence that girls/women are meant to embody. On the other hand, many girls toys are becoming more sexified, suggesting that the primary concern of girlhood is sex appeal. “The natural progression from pale, innocent pink,” says Sharon Lamb (whom Orenstein quotes in her article), “is not to other colors. It’s to hot, sexy pink–exactly the kind of sexualization parents are trying to avoid” (“What’s Wrong With Cinderella?” 2006). Dora the Explorer is just one example of how girl’s play hyper-feminizes and even sexualizes young girls. To read more, visit Sociological Images at: http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/03/19/dora-the-explorers-makeover-gwen-and-i-saw-it-comin/ […]
There are LEGOs for boys, and these pink LEGOs all the way over here are for girls | USDemocrazy — January 20, 2014
[…] to only play with girl toys - it's a marketing strategy used by dozens of companies (seriously, this Dora the Explorer doesn't look like a five-year-old - she looks like a sorority girl). Or perhaps the angry soccer […]
Sexed up Powerpuff Girls point to Cartoon Network’s girl problem | Reel Girl — January 24, 2014
[…] “make-overs” for female characters from children’s media include Merida, Dora, Strawberry Shortcake, and Queen Frostline. Yeah, this is how Candyland has changed since we were […]
susie — January 25, 2014
I don't see anything wrong with the change.
For one, the new dora is more fit than the old one. Kids should not be overweight, in general. Think back to just the 70s or 80s, hardly any kids were as big as the old DORA at that age.
Second, the clothes now fit and, frankly, look nice. One doesn't need a lot of money to dress nicely (men or women). I recall my travels to many developing countries, in which I recall observing that many of the folks on the street (men and women), obviously with very little resources (in lower middle class ares), still dressed ,on average, much nicer than average american in suburb (or elite university) with much greater resources. e.g., thailand, peru, chile, mexico, etc etc. Sorry to say, relative to rest of the world, americans dress like slobs.
Fashion-Look-Out — January 24, 2016
[…] is no innovation here; it is the exact same makeover that we’ve seen in recent years with Dora the Explorer, Strawberry Shortcake, Holly Hobbie, Lisa Frank, Trolls, Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony, […]
Amelia Evans — November 11, 2017
And why do not people think boys always play masculine toys is a problem?
And why do not people think boys always play masculine toys is a problem?
Amelia Evans — November 11, 2017
I do not know why more feminized is not good. Look at Sailor Moon, she as the vanguard of female heroes also introduced many womens' goods. And Magic Doremi, it described the story of the little girls taking care of a baby (at the same time does thier work) and highlight the bright side of human nature.
And why do not people think boys always play masculine toys is a problem?
TV Watcher — November 16, 2017
I've seen both pictures of Dora, the original Dora that you see on the Nickelodeon series, and the revised version, and quite frankly, I fail to understand what the problem some people have with it. So Dora grows up from a little girl of about 8 yrs. to an adolescent. So what? Children grow up and become teens, so why not allow cartoon children to grow up? You can't stay young forever. Does that mean that Dora shouldn't continue to be playful and enthusiastic about exploring her surroundings? Of course not.
Sarah H — March 12, 2018
I personally believe that this new Dora is not a good influence on girls. I read in an article that this new Dora is 10. I had not once ever meet a 10 year old girl wearing mascara and makeup and wearing a dress to go out to play. I myself started wearing makeup at 13-14 years old. I believe that this Dora is teaching little girls how they should have this skinny figure, beautiful long hair, makeup and jewelry, and dresses. It’s almost like the Barbie case. How they set standards for little girls. Keep in mind that these little girls are still taking things as their role models. If you present them with this little super model girl, what will they think. Imagine a little girl who is sensitive about her weight and sees this beautiful girl. What will she begin to think? This is only my opinion but I do personally think that the old Dora is better.
Anonymous — November 13, 2018
Dood
Mumbai One Beauties — December 27, 2022
You have made a suitable post with very good information I am glad to read it I have shared it with my friends you keep adding such nice posts my name is ayushi basu I work under an escort agency in Mumbai for a long time where I have provided customer satisfaction Mumbai call girls we have an excellent independent car driving independent ladies who serve with their willingness https://www.ayushibosus.com/